Federer lowered expectations after “tough” 2012 season

Roger Federer admits that he did not have big expectations coming into this season. The former No. 1 has won only one title this year, failed to reach a major final for the first time since 2002, and is currently ranked No. 7, but is confident that he can turn things around next season.

“I always knew that this year, after a very tough year in 2012, the Olympics (and winning Wimbledon), was going to be a bit more quiet,” he told reporters in Shanghai. “I expected myself probably not to be as successful and as busy playing matches and tournaments. My mindset now is, okay, next year is going to be a great year again where I’m not going to have that many points to defend, especially at some very key moments where I consider myself a favorite. For that reason I’m really looking forward to 2014 already.”

The Swiss did not want to discuss his loss to Tommy Robredo in the fourth round of the U.S. Open in great detail. Federer entered the contest with a 10-0 record against the Spaniard.

“I didn’t want to focus too much on what happened the last two months. The U.S. Open, I hardly ever thought about it if I look back, at the Robredo match,” he said. It wasn’t my day. It’s one of those things you just want to move on from. I think my game’s been coming back, which has been very important. Now it’s about staying positive and working hard every single day. That’s been the mindset.”

Federer is currently seventh in the ATP Race to London; the World Tour Finals has an eight-man field. He has won that event six times and says that he is planning to push hard to qualify again.

“It was the goal at the beginning of the season to qualify for it. I consider it the absolute best of the best tournament out there, so I want to be part of that,” said Federer.